The National Labor Relations Board in Chicago, a regional branch, determined Wednesday that Northwestern football players are employees of the university and free to unionize.

Clemson coach and former Alabama walk-on Dabo Swinney just shakes his head at the idea and said the notion that players get nothing devalues the education they are receiving.

"We've got enough entitlement in this country as it is," Swinney told The Post & Courier. "To say these guys get nothing totally devalues an education. It just blows my mind people don't even want to quantify an education.

"I didn't get into coaching to make money - coaches weren't making any money when I got into coaching. It's what I wanted to do with my life, and I was able to do it because of my education. That's what changed my life. That's what changes everybody's life."